From January 26 to 30, 2025, the Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue and the 3rd International Science Council (ISC) General Assembly were held in Muscat, Oman. Up to 500 experts and scholars from various fields around the world participated in the events. The events were organized by ISC and hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation of Oman. It aimed to promote discussions among ISC members and partners from different scientific fields on interdisciplinary and strategic challenges, and to explore priority areas and directions for international scientific cooperation.
Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue
On January 26, during the pre-event workshop, extensive discussions were held on topics such as scientific responsibility, data policies, AI, and especially the role of science in sustainable development policy-making. On January 27, the Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue officially opened, with H.E. Prof. Rahma Al-Mahrooqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Oman, and the ISC President Sir Peter Gluckman delivering opening remarks respectively. Over the two-day dialogue, experts engaged in in-depth exchanges on current issues such as open science, science diplomacy, international scientific cooperation, emerging technologies and scientific development, the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development, and future-oriented science education. The event concluded with the adoption of the Muscat Declaration, a call to action for equitable access to knowledge, transformative science systems, and strengthened international collaboration to address pressing global challenges.
The 3rd ISC General Assembly
On January 29, the 3rd ISC General Assembly opened. Sir Peter Gluckman, the President of ISC, Dr. Salvatore Aricò, the CEO of ISC, and Prof. Motoko Kotani, the Chair of the Standing Committee for Science Planning of ISC, delivered keynote speeches.
Prof. Guo was invited to attend the ISC Fellows meeting where he shared his insights on establishing an ISC Fellowship "think tank." Relying on the construction of CBAS, the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), a member of the ISC, sent the Society's Secretary-General, Researcher Wang Changlin, and Executive Director, Dr. Liu Zhen, to participate in the ISC Member Forum. They deeply engaged in discussions on the construction and contact of the members of the International Science Council. ISDE was selected as one of the 11 organizations globally for the first-ever "ISC Digital Journeys Cohort" established by the ISC and was invited to attend a special ISC meeting. This transformational initiative encourages international scientific and technological organizations to utilize digital technologies and new methods to optimize organizational collaboration processes, create new value, and promote the realization of the missions of member organizations.
As a ISC Fellow and a distinguished guest, Prof. Guo held talks with Salvatore Aricò, CEO of the International Science Council, Quarraisha Abdool Karim, President of the World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Developing Countries (TWAS), Korosi Csaba, President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and Alik Ismail-Zadeh, Chair of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) of the International Science Council during the conference. They had in-depth exchanges of views on the DSP international mega-science program, the support of space technology for sustainable development, the analysis and sharing of satellite data for sustainable development, and comprehensive research on disaster risks.
Prof. Guo with Quarraisha Abdool Karim, President of TWAS
The visit to UNESCO Arab Regional Center for World Heritage (ARC-WH), German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech)
The delegation were also invited to visit the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) for a symposium with the heads of the College of Earth Sciences, the College of Computer Science, as well as the Arab Regional Center for World Heritage. They had in-depth exchanges on issues such as capacity building and data sharing for SDGs through space observation and digital Earth technology, as well as the exploration of cultural heritage protection.
The Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue is one of the series of global knowledge dialogues organized by ISC, which has been held annually in different countries and regions since 2022, covering Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It aims to promote international scientific cooperation among scientists, research funders, the private sector, and NGOs. The ISC General Assembly is its highest authority, composed of representatives from its members, and has been held every three years since 2018.